Yesterday, Sunday 26th August 2012, the 7th edition of The Future Awards tagged “Tear Down the Walls” took place in the Nation’s oil rich city – Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Some of your favorite celebrities and entrepreneurs arrived in style in their most glamorous gowns and dapper suits.

Among the top prizes of the night included the Young Person of the Year, which was one of the toughtest categories as EME boss Banky W, Koko master D’banj, IRok TV Founder Jason Njoku, Pop Duo P-Square, Blogger Linda Ikeji, Scientist Raheem Temitope Bello and Engineer Chinwe Njoku were all nominated. At the end, Nigerian journalist Idris Akinbajo was declared winner of the category. All eyes were also on the actor of the year category, which saw “Blackberry Babes” star Tonto Dikeh, beat other top Nigerian actors including Ini Edo, OC Ukeje and Gideon Okeke to clinch the award.

Other winners of the night were Pakurumo Star Wizkid who won the Musician of the Year category, Don Jazzy who won Entertainment Entrepreneur of the Year, Toju Foyeh for Designer of the Year, Clarence Peters for Producer of the Year and Denrele for Television presenter of the year.

For all the photos, Keep refreshing BellaNaija.com, till then, check out the full list of winners.

The Future Awards 2012 Full List of WinnersYoung Person of the Year – Idris AkinbajoBest Use of Advocacy – Babafemi OyediranBest New Use of Media – Gidi TrafficCreative Artist of the Year – Bayo Omoboriowo (Photography)Designer of the Year – Toju FoyehExcellence in Service (Government) – Hadiza Abdullahi (The Presidency – MDG Office)Excellence in Service (Journalism) – Alkasim Abdullahi (CNN)Excellence in Service (Corporate) – Ngozi Nkwoji (Brand Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc.)Innovator of the year (Science & Technology) – Seun Onigbinde (BudgIT)Innovator of The Year (Education) – Otto Orondaam (Slum to School Project)Entrepreneur of The Year (General) – Ola Orekunri (Flying Doctors)Entrepreneur of The Year (Agriculture) – Tochukwu Ikpegbu (Emmanuel Farms)Entrepreneur of The Year (Communication & Media) – Uyi Omokaro (DM2)Entrepreneur of The Year (Entertainment) – Michael Collins (Don Jazzy)Entrepreneur of The Year (Technology) – Jason Njoku (IrokoTV)On Air Personality (Radio) – Tolu ‘Toolz’ Oniru (Beat FM)On Air Personality (Television) – Denrele Edun (ChannelO)Musician of The Year – WizkidActor of The Year – Tonto DikehProducer of The Year (Music) – Jeremiah Shelika (J.Sleek)Producer of The Year (Screen) – Clarence Peters

Read the Official Press Release

An evening of glitz and glamour as The Future Awards tears down the walls in Port Harcourt. The Season 7 of Nigeria’s premier youth awards event, The Future Awards, held on the 26th of August 2012 in the Garden City of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Although this was the first time that the awards event was taken outside of Lagos, it wasn’t a disadvantage in any way, as the organisers (The Future Project) and the host (Government of Rivers State) put together an unforgettable show.

The Future Awards which was tagged “Tear Down these Walls”, brought together very important personalities including former World Bank Vice President, Obiageli Ezekwesili, Rivers State Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru, Commissioner for Information, Ibim Seminatari, Commissioner for Agriculture, Emmanuel Chinda, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, and many others.

August 25th 6am: Nominees and other guests from Lagos began to troop into the Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos for their flight to Port Harcourt.

10.30am: First set of out-of-state guests for The Future Awards arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. Guests, who attended The Future Awards, came in from more than ten states of the federation.

6pm: Nominees and other guests were hosted in a brief cocktail event by the Deputy Governor of Rivers, Engr. Tele Ikuru, at the Rivers State Government House. Also present at that ceremony were commissioners in the state’s executive council, as well as other top government functionaries. Engr. Ikuru, who was representing the state’s governor, Rt. Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, who was out of the country, welcomed all the guests, especially the nominees, and expressed excitement at hosting the future of the country in Rivers State.

August 26th: 8am: Out-of-state guests were taken on a tour of Rivers State by a high level executive team led by the gracious Commissioner of Information, Ibim Seminatari; the Commissioner of Power, Augustine Nwokocha; Commissioner of Agriculture, Emmanuel Chinda; Chief Executive in charge of the State’s Primary Health care centres, Dr. (Mrs) Claribel Abam, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.

The tour which lasted for up to six hours saw the nominees visit the Rivers State Dental and Maxillofacial Clinic; State school, Elekahia; Primary Health Centre, Elekahia and Model Secondary School, Eleme. Participants were wowed by the facilities and the world class standards to which the governor aspired in providing them. The tour also took participants to the Songhai Farm, the Afam Power plant, and Banana plantation in Tai (a PPP with a Mexican firm.)

4pm: Keynote address by the Chairman of Heirs Holding and one of Africa’s most influential entrepreneurs, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu MFR, at The Atrium, Stadium Road, Port Harcourt. Elumelu spoke on the topic, “Tear down these walls.” The former UBA boss listed sacrifice, hardwork, and tenacity as the necessities for entrepreneurial success. He also revealed during his speech that he plans to begin an hour long mentoring session on twitter once in every month.

Entertainers who thrilled guests on the night include Timi Dakolo, Bez, Muma-Gee, Dan the Humorous, and Denrele. Timi Dakolo also premiered his latest video “Great Nation” at the event.

The big winner for the night was Idris Akinbajo, the investigative journalist and multiple award winner, who beat other strong contenders like Psquare, Banky W, Raheem Bello, D’banj, Linda Ikeji, Jason Njoku, and Chinwe Njoku to emerge as The Future Awards Young Person of the Year 2012. The Young Person of the Year Award is the most coveted of all the awards given on any TFA night.

Other winners include Tonto Dikeh (Actor of the Year), Babafemi Oyediran (Best Use of Advocacy), Gidi Traffic (Best Use of New Media), Bayo Omoboriowo (Creative Artiste of the year), and Toju Foyeh (Designer of the Year).

Others are Hadiza Abdullahi (Excellence in Service – Government), Alkasim Abdulkadir (Excellence in Service – Journalism), Ngozi Nkwoji (Excellence in Service – Corporate), Seun Onigbinde (Innovator of the Year -Science and Technology ), Otto Orondaam (Innovator of the Year – Education), Ola Orekunrin (Entrepreneur of the Year – General), Tochukwu Ikpegbu (Entrepreneur of the Year – Agriculture), Uyi Omokaro (Entrepreneur of the Year – Communication and Media), Michael Collins (Entrepreneur of the Year – Entertainment), and Jason Njoku (Entrepreneur of the Year – Technology).

The winner of the On-Air-Personality (Radio) award was Tolu ‘Toolz’ Oniru, On-Air-Personality (TV) was Denrele Edun, the Musician of the Year was Wizkid, Producer of the Year (Music ) was Jeremiah ‘J. Sleek’ Shelika and the Producer of the Year (Screen) award went to Clarence Peters

You must not be somebody known to win an award, you might be changing the lives of people in Jigawa ore Enugu or doing something remarkable away from the city of Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt. In all your hands find doing, do it well, you might just win The Future Awards 😀

I knew Donjazzy, Jason Njoku and Gidi traffic will be winners. Congratulations to them and to those who had their names in the nomination list. All of you are all winners. let’s keep tearing down the wall. Bravo!!!. http://www.brandigest.wordpress.com

I second dt one about Tonto joor, someone who screams @ evryone wen acting, bites her lips n twists her head and neck all round like an agrieved guinea fowl.but haven said dt,I wonder if she aint just laffing @ dis comment now n saying, “yea? I got it? Go jump into the lake” I used to believ Future awards was a thorough something bfor, but now am having a rethink,I wait for the picture sha,I hope many peeople didn’t dress like Tonto?

happy for you dear tonto, wizman abi wizkid you try ooo, denrele na you win my uti abi? is well, don jazzy you deserve it you know how will do at marvin. jason njoku congrats, the rest i no too know una but anyway kudos to you all

Have you guys watched some of Tonto Dike’s features on Damages etc this year, or you’re just yarning your own? She’s actually done some really good work through the year of review, so her win doesn’t come as a shock, neither is it undeserving!

i totally agree with wizkid and don jazzys category,kudos to them!as for tonto,really dont have much words to waste! madame toju foyeh ,i reviewed ur fashion portfolio just when i heard u made the final cut on the nominee list. Queens on Paper for thisday style,brilliant! tiwa savages memorable [email protected] SMVAs and MAMAs,breah taking! two collections to ur [email protected] and sorry im not wowed and i wonder how you made the final nominee cut…Future Awards…a total joke!

Denrele stole the show by giving the best acceptance speech of the night! Forget Tonto who gave the driest speech ever. Every moment Denrele stepped up onstage, he was electrifying and for the first time ever, I doffed my hat to this amazing specimen of entertainment!

I am not a Denrele fan per say per say, but before his name was announced as the winner…….the entire hall was buzzing with shouts of DENRELE…….haters, take a hike. That guy is a frigging superstar even if he fails to admit. He even screamed out loud onstage and spoke about how he was nominated for this particular award 5 times in a row and after much perseverance, he finally clinched it. Denrele’s goodwill is truly accumulating for him. He has helped people in this industry no doubt. I heard Uti was so livid with rage and he was even cold to Denrele at the airport the next day,I saw the way he responded to Denrele’s greeting. Alex was almost red in the face too. Uti, Abeg you just dey learn work for where Denrele dey.

And yes, I voted like crazy for Denrele to win this award. Long time deserving, the dude had been nominated for close to five times in a row. I actually had to double check that because I heard he said that onstage. Denrele, keep soaring higher and carrying your people along. Don’t stop the spread of goodwill. Keep helping the ones that you can and just be part of all the success stories that you can. I promise to help out anytime you need me to. A diehard fan.